French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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